1912-2008
Construit en 1912, derrière le marché Bonsecours, le silo à grain # 2 était alors décrit dans les journaux comme étant un des plus gros silo du monde. Cet ensemble dont la structure était entièrement conçu en béton armé fut démoli en 1978 suite à l’élaboration du projet : «vue sur le fleuve».
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The Floating Steam Crane in the Older Image used to ‘Live’ in the Basin at the Foot of Mc Gill St. at the Entrance of the Double Locks of the Lachine Canal South of the M&SC Freight Yard.
The Crane Burned Coal and was always Simmering, in the Months of Navigation, pervading the Area with the Once Prevalent Odour of Steam.
It had a Lovely Whistle!!!
The Crane was Shifted by a Tug.
Liners used to Dock at the Pier East of the Mouth of the Lachine Canal.
Around 1967 a Brand-New Package Freighter of CSL? Capsised at this Pier.
Bickerdike Basin by Goose Village, to the East of Five Roses Building was used to ‘Coal’ Ships by Cranes on the Pier and they also used a ‘Lighter’ which could Propel itself, but usually was Moved by Tug, to Coal other Ships.
The Lighter was Shepherded to Ships by a Tug, as it was Coal-Fired and would take time to ‘Steam’ once Coal-Fired Steam Ships were Rare.
The Lighter had a Diesel ‘Dominion’ Crane on it’s Deck.
The Steam Floating Crane was in use until c. 1966 or 1967.
Silo no.2 had it’s foundation and structural remnants existing in the Vieux Port for a decade until some idiot in charge said let’s destroy our heritage, so they dug it up and made a boring lawn. Just what we needed!
Dirty history, we must get ride of our history! Dig it up and cover it over.
I’d like to find the functionaire in charge of this appalling decision and teach him/her history lesson or two!
OMG, I can’t believe how people here criticize any kind of urban development in any possible way. Sid, if it was still there, someone would be criticizing that a huge smelly abandoned ‘building’ is blocking the view of the Old Montreal (yes, it would still be an abandoned building, look at silo #5). This looks like a good change to me :)
If its (possessive form, btw – “it’s” is “it is” – where are the apostrophe police when you need them?) foundations could’ve been recycled to some new, imaginative use, perhaps that would have been better, but I have to agree that opening up the view, esp. being able to see the Bonsecours from the water, from all angles (e.g., from Parc Jean-Drapeau) is a big improvement. History is change. One doesn’t have to keep everything.